My mother
and her husband
are talking
to a married couple
from Wisconsin
probably the same age
They describe themselves
as nice
but very stupid
and have been
on a number
of cruises before
one which involved
a suicide
Apparently it
was an Irishman
An early morning
around 3 AM
he jumped overboard
with his suitcase
and into the darkness
he disappeared
But the Irishman
had left behind
a £ 1,000 tip
just to show everyone
how grateful he was

SOURCEJeremy Bishop
MARK ANTHONY PEARCE

Mark Anthony Pearce lives and works as a Receptionist in Bristol, South West England. He is an author of eight books of Poetry,‘Perforated By Sirens’ (With Danny D. Ford) (December 2020, Analog Submission Press),‘Wheelchair Tony’ (March 2021, Between Shadows Press), ‘A Smile As Sad As Sunday’(October 2021, Between Shadows Press), ‘Three Poets 5’  (With Tohm Bakelas & Danny D. Ford) (December 2021, Hickathrift Press),‘Happy New Year, Ellsworth Griffin!’ (April 2022, Between Shadows Press), 'She Smells Dead People' (May 2022, Hickathrift Press) & ‘Shopping For A New Penis And Other Poems’ (August 2022, Hickathrift Press). His poetry has been published in University of Essex Poetry Journal, BS Poetry Magazine, Obscure Quarterly, CAPGRAS, Seppuku Quartley, online, Inefável, Coronaverses, Winamop, Horror Sleaze Trash, Duane’s PoeTree, Piker Press, Albany Poets, Ten Million Flies, Open Arts Forum, Cacti Fur, Cephalo Press, Punk Noir Magazine & Bold Monkey Review. Mark’s writing has also featured in ‘Anne Bean: Self Etc’ (Autumn 2018, Live Art Development Agency and Intellect Books) & ‘haikus, nearkus, fauxkus, fuckyous’ (July 2021, Between Shadows Press)